Structures of Mutual Support, Venice, Italy, 2021

A close collaboration with the community to design and build a library/ conflict resolution space. The structure was exhibited as the Philippine Pavilion at the 17th Venice biennale before returning to the village in 2022.

Structures of Mutual Support served as the Philippine Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Biennale, curated by Alexander Eriksson Furunes and Sudarshan V. Khadka Jr. Collaborating with residents of Angat, Philippines, the project embraced the traditional Filipino practice of bayanihan to design and build a library and conflict resolution center. The structure was completed in the village before it was disassembled and shipped to Venice for the biennale. It was sent back and rebuilt in Angat after the biennale. The pavilion explored how mutual support can inform architectural practice, emphasizing social relationships, resilience, and communal solidarity. It received a Special Mention from the Golden Lion jury for “for this exemplary community project that creates a rich archive and experience of collaborative construction practices.” Addressing the question of how we live together, the project focused on the colective processes of finding and implementing solutions through mutual support rather than seeking straightforward answers. Structures of Mutual Support highlights the importance of collective action and shared efforts in shaping resilient communities, demonstrating the transformative power of collaborative architectural practices in tackling social and environmental challenges.

Curators: Alexander Eriksson Furunes & Sudarshan Khadka
Commissioner: Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale (PAVB),
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of Deputy
Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda